Gus,



On our 88 FC, and I believe that your 89 may be the same,

There is a large Bosch relay, probably 70/80 Amps. The size of a

pack of cigarettes, located mid-way center under the coach,

The relay is tripped by 12V when the engine is running or when the

gennie or shore power is applied, to charge the battery with the

battery charger. This is also where the diode is located. It is round

about the size of your thumb. These wires are exposed to the

outside road debris, usually cleaning all the wires, contacts and

butt connectors will cure the charging problem.

The gen battery should charge from the engine alternator or the AC

battery charger when on gennie or shore power.

You may see this charge on the generator Amp Gage.

For a temporary fix a jumper across the diode will charge the battery.

This jumper must be removed as several batteries are connected

together, The jumper could drain the batteries.



Bill 88 FC Michigan



--- In "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com",
"Gus" wrote:

>

> After charging the battery externally 12 hours it finally reached a

full

> charge. I thought it may have had a bad cell, but it's ok. I

installed it

> and started the generator. It started up fine just like it always

had in

> the past. All the gauges seem to be working properly. I paid close

> attention to the oil pressure and it indicated in it's normal

range. The

> switch was not dim as before and I was able to shut it down and

power it up

> from all the switches. I believe the low voltage in the battery is

what

> caused the wild readings as was suggested. I have not checked the

ground to

> the gauge yet but intend to.

>

> I still don't understand why the battery is not being charged. Is

it

> supposed to be charged by the generator as I'm going down the road

or is the

> charger/inverter supposed to do it? Even if nothing is charging

it, would

> the voltage be consumed after 15hours of runtime? What is

consuming it? I

> thought that the battery was only needed to start (and now

obviously stop)

> the generator.

>

>

>

> Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can keep it charged

while I'm

> on the road? It is a dedicated battery for the genset.

>

> In the past I have been using a small battery charger while it

sits. I

> didn't have any problems with that set-up because I had not taken

the bus

> out for any extended runs. My trips had always been relatively

short.

>

>

>

> Thanks for all the info and suggestions. I'm still relatively new

to bird

> ownership but I'm learning thanks to all the support I get from the

good

> people in this group.

>

>

>

> Gus Rodriguez

>

> 89 pt40 8v92

>

> Pearland, Texas

>

>

>

> From: "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com"

> [mailto:"WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com"]
On Behalf Of Gregory

OConnor

> Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2008 4:07 PM

> To: "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com"

> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Wild Generator Oil Pressure

>

>

>

> some times a high oilpressure at low idle followed by a drop off to

> less than idle reading but more than normanl as you increase rpm

> proves the relief is being used in the filter. you would think

> Chatter in the gauge is also an indication but i dont think the

> pressure can fluctuate fast?? when a filter gets dirty quick, it

> could be a bearing got ate up and clogged the filter media.

>

> Your situation sounds like a battery ground especially if the

> genset is started by a dedicated battery. for it to be an alt issue

> that kills the battery while the engine is running, the fuel shut

> off would close and stop the genset. Since the genset ran on a

> battery either dead or not connected properly, the alt must have

> been supplying the juice to keep the fso open?????? it would be

> helpfull to know if the battery was actually dead, if not it could

> be just a bat terminal issue

>

> I guess the relay power to throw the fso is via the genset

> battery???? cant understand why you could not remove power to the

> fso??? you would think that relay is normaly closed?????

>

> GregoryO'Connor

> 94ptRomolandCa

>

> --- In "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com"

> , "Leroy A.
Eckert"

> wrote:

> >

> > --- In "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com"

> ,
"freewill2008"

> > wrote:

> >

> > You can easily check the gauge function for integrity by going

> here.

> > http://downloadingfiles.co.uk/teleflexfiles/gauges/Oil%20Pressure%

> <http://downloadingfiles.co.uk/teleflexfiles/gauges/Oil%20Pressure%

25>

> 20Systems.pdf

> > Leroy Eckert

> > 1990 WB-40 Smoke N Mirrors

> > Dahlonega, GA

> > Royale Conversion

> > >

> > > Hi Gus -

> > >

> > > The oil pressure guage is surely electric. The genset engine

> > > controls would also be electric and possibly electronic.

> > >

> > > Now, you also mention the battery is low or dead. Your

> electric

> > > guages and engine controls will certainly be erratic if the

> voltage

> > > is wrong.

> > >

> > > Try charging (and doing whatever is needed to KEEP a charge)

and

> then

> > > see how everything works.

> > >

> > > Best of luck.

> > >

> > > Bob Griesel '84 FC31 WLII WA

> > >

> > > --- In "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com"

> , "Gus"


wrote:

> > > >

> > > > Hello everyone,

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > On my last trip, I noticed the generator oil pressure

> bouncing

> > > wildly

> > > > between 80 & 120. I did not notice it creep up. It had
been

> just

> > > under 30

> > > > psi for most of the trip (15hours). Water temperature was
at

> 160

> > > F. I was

> > > > alarmed so I hit the switch to turn it off. It did not shut


> down.

> > > I pulled

> > > > over, opened the generator bay and access to the controls.
I

> hit

> > > the off

> > > > switch at the box and nothing. The engine did not feel too

> hot to

> > > the

> > > > touch. The radiator and the coolant reservoir did not feel

> too hot

> > > either.

> > > > I was still alarmed so I pulled the fuse to shut it down. I


> > > reinserted the

> > > > fuse and tried to start it, but was unsuccessful. I then

> checked

> > > the

> > > > battery and it was dead.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Other information:

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > 1) I had just replaced the battery and was aware that the

> > > battery was

> > > > not being charged by the battery charger or the generator.

> > > >

> > > > 2) As I was trying to shut the generator off, I noticed

> that

> > > the switch

> > > > was lit dim. Is that because the batt. Was dead (8 volts)?

> > > >

> > > > 3) As I was checking the battery, I felt a very small

> > > electric charge

> > > > on my left knee which was touching the bus frame. Should I
be

> > > concerned? I

> > > > will investigate that charge further tomorrow morning. It
may

> be

> > > unrelated.

> > > >

> > > > 4) I am now charging the battery so I can try to start

> the

> > > generator in

> > > > the morning. I think it will start but I will not let it
run

> for

> > > long until

> > > > I figure out the Pressure problem. Is battery voltage

> required to

> > > shut it

> > > > off?

> > > >

> > > > 5) Right now all the gauges read zero except for the oil

> > > pressure.

> > > > The needle is stuck at 60 psi.

> > > >

> > > > 6) By the way, I have a 13 kw generator with a Yanmar

> engine.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Any help is greatly appreciated.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Gus Rodriguez

> > > >

> > > > 89 pt40 8v92

> > > >

> > >

> >

>